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Einstein cross. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
Einstein cross, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
Einstein cross in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
Einstein cross you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
From Einstein (“Albert Einstein”) + cross. From the shape of a cross, of four points at roughly square angles around a central object, caused by distortions in the path of light's travel due to Einsteinian relativity (Albert Einstein's general relativity) creating four points out of a single light source behind the off-center central object. (An on-center central object results in an Einstein ring.).
Noun
Einstein cross (plural Einstein crosses)
- (astronomy, physics) A gravitational lens configuration resulting in four duplicated images of the back ground image around the central gravitationally lensing object, in a cross configuration.
Derived terms
- Einstein Cross (the first discovered gravitationally-lensed quasar in this configuration)
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